Sanguisorba plant named ‘Jam Session’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Sanguisorba  plant named ‘Jam Session’, characterized by its compact plant habit with upright flowering stems; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; numerous white-colored flowers on dense inflorescences; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Sanguisorba officinalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JAM SESSION’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sanguisorba plant, botanically known as Sanguisorba officinalis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Jam Session’.

The new Sanguisorba plant originated from an open-pollination during the summer of 2015 in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands, of Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Thunder’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Sanguisorba officinalis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Sanguisorba plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands in August, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sanguisorba plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands since February, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Sanguisorba plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Sanguisorba have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Jam Session’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Jam Session’ as a new and distinct Sanguisorba plant:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit with upright flowering stems.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Numerous white-colored flowers on dense inflorescences.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Sanguisorba differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Red Thunder’, in plant habit as plants of the new Sanguisorba are more compact than and shorter than plants of ‘Red Thunder’. In addition, plants of the new Sanguisorba have white-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Red Thunder’ have dark pinkish red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Sanguisorba can be compared to plants of Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’, not patented. Plants of the new Sanguisorba differ primarily from plants of ‘Tanna’ in plant habit as plants of the new Sanguisorba are more taller than plants of ‘Tanna’. In addition, plants of the new Sanguisorba have white-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Tanna’ have dark pinkish red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Sanguisorba can also be compared to plants of Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Proud Mary’, not patented. Plants of the new Sanguisorba differ primarily from plants of ‘Proud Mary’ in leaf color as plants of the new Sanguisorba have dark green-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Proud Mary’ have bluish green-colored leaves. In addition, plants of the new Sanguisorba have white-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Proud Mary’ have pinkish red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sanguisorba plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Sanguisorba plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typical flowering plant of ‘Jam Session’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Jam Session’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 25-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Sanguisorba production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Jam Session’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red             Thunder’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Sanguisorba             officinalis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two to three weeks at             ambient temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             months at ambient temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, moderately fibrous; developing             roots, close to 158A in color becoming closer to between             N199B and N199C with development, actual color of the roots             is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown             as a garden plant; compact and upright plant habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate;             flattened globular basal rosette with upright flowering             stems; basal branching habit with about three primary basal             branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 11.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 48.3             cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 28.3 cm.         -   Basal branches.—Length: About 28.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 6.5 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, developing:             Close to 145A. Color, developed: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, compound; basal and cauline leaves.         -   Basal leaves.—Number of leaflets per leaf: About eleven,             occasionally seven or nine. Leaf length: About 13.5 cm. Leaf             width: About 6.7 cm. Leaflet length: About 3.2 cm. Leaflet             width: About 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm. Leaf shape: Obovate. Leaflet             shape: Oblong Leaflet apex: Abruptly acute. Leaflet base:             Hastate, lobes free. Leaflet margin: Crenate. Leaflet             texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Leaflet venation pattern: Pinnate.             Color: Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to between             137B and 143A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to             138B. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to             N137A; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Fully expanded             leaflets, lower surface: Close to between 138A and 147B;             venation, close to 146C to 146D. Petioles: Length: About             10.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Strength: Strong. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A; towards the base, close to 187D.         -   Cauline leaves.—Number of leaflets per leaf: About three,             occasionally five. Leaf length: About 4.8 cm. Leaf width:             About 5.5 cm. Leaflet length: About 2.7 cm to 3.2 cm.             Leaflet width: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Leaf shape: Broadly             ovate. Leaflet shape: Oblong Leaflet apex: Abruptly acute.             Leaflet base: Obtuse. Leaflet margin: Crenate. Leaflet             texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Leaflet venation pattern: Pinnate.             Color: Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to between             137B and 143A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to             138B. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to             N137A; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Fully expanded             leaflets, lower surface: Close to between 138A and 147B;             venation, close to 146C to 146D. Petioles: Length: About             1.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.75 mm. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Strength: Strong. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A.         -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two leafy stipulate at             the base of each stem leaf. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About             5 mm. Shape: Broadly falcate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to             N137A. Color, lower surface: Close to between 138A and 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Single rotate flowers             arranged on dense terminal racemes; freely flowering habit             with about 50 flowers developing per inflorescence and about             750 flowers developing per plant during the flowering             season; flowers face mostly outwardly on the raceme.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during the summer             into the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering             about ten months after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             two weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, unpleasant.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.75 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to N157D; axile stripes, close to 143A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 mm.         -   Flower length.—About 4.5 mm.         -   Flower height.—About 4 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl.             Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate,             reflexed. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire, not             undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous, slightly velvety; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to NN155C; central band, close             to 143B. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155C;             central band, close to 143A to 143B. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to NN155C; central band, close to             143B; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl;             cylindrical calyx. Calyx length: About 1 mm. Calyx diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblong, fused. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 155B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 155B.         -   Floral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of             each flower. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 0.75 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 15.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm.             Aspect: About 10° from vertical. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 157A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Filament color: Close to             NN155D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther size: About 0.3             mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to N77A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: Ten. Pistil length: About 1.2 mm. Stigma diameter:             About 0.75 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color:             Close to 157D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close             to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to NN155D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Sanguisorba. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Sanguisorba have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Sanguisorba plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Sanguisorba have exhibited     good tolerance to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from −30° C.     to 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Sanguisorba plant named ‘Jam Session’ as illustrated and described. 